Clergy abuse victims want court to force St. Paul archdiocese to show video at churches

By Elizabeth Mohr
Pioneer Press
June 29, 2015

http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_28403779/clergy-abuse-victims-want-court-force-st-paul

With the court-imposed deadline looming for victims of clergy sexual abuse to file claims against the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the bankruptcy court has been asked to compel church officials to show an informational video in every parish to help spread the word.

The archdiocese filed for bankruptcy protection in January, citing an operating deficit and concerns about more lawsuits for clergy sexual abuse.

In April, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Kressel approved a request by the archdiocese to set an Aug. 3 deadline for anyone wishing to file a claim related to clergy sexual abuse, despite a state law letting them file until May 25, 2016.

The church said it would make efforts to notify people of the court-imposed deadline via news organizations and Catholic publications.

The committee of unsecured creditors Monday asked the court to force the archdiocese to have the video shown in all 187 parishes during the weekend of July 11-12 and to have the video published or promoted on parish websites.

The committee said it had concerns about "the formal, legal notices being published," and felt "survivors of sexual abuse would either fail to understand the notices or that the notices would not compel survivors to come forward and file a claim," the committee's Monday motion said.

"After careful consideration, the committee determined that a more personal, multimedia video presentation setting forth details of relevant deadline in layman's terms would greatly increase the likelihood of providing actual and effective notice to potential sexual abuse claimants," the motion said.

There will be a hearing on the matter July 9.